APS REGULATORY ALERT

USDA APHIS collecting comments on interstate movement of articles that my contain Phytophthora ramorum; USDA APHIS amending the citrus canker regulations to modify the conditions under which fruit may be moved interstate from a quarantined area; Comment period on the APHIS Proposed Rule regarding Select Agents was reopened
Date: November 29, 2007

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will collect comments within 30 days of November 19, 2007 on restrictions to the interstate movement of certain regulated and restricted articles from quarantined areas in California and Oregon to prevent the artificial spread of Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen that causes the plant disease commonly known as sudden oak death, ramorum left blight, and ramorum dieback. Complete information in the November 19, 2007 Federal Register. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-5720.htm

USDA APHIS is amending the citrus canker regulations to modify the conditions under which fruit may be moved interstate from a quarantined area. APHIS is eliminating the requirement that the groves in which the fruit is produced be inspected and found free of citrus canker, and instead are requiring that every lot of fruit produced in the quarantined area be inspected by the APHIS at a packinghouse operating under a compliance agreement and found to be free of visible symptoms of citrus canker. View the Federal Register notice. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-22549.htm

The comment period on the APHIS Proposed Rule regarding Select Agents was reopened. If you wish to provide scientific input on what has been proposed, the closing date for submission is now extended to December 3, 2007. Visit http://www.regulations.gov, use the “Search for Documents" function, select “Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service" from the agency drop-down menu, enter "APHIS-2007-0033" in the "Document ID" field then click on “Submit.” The comments that have been submitted are accessible for review.